In Eastern Europe, the EC135 and EC145 are clear winners over any other helicopter in the Eurocopter range.

“After the market opened up in Eastern Europe, the parapublic segment, particularly law enforcement, experienced the most impressive growth,” explains Markus Steinke, director of the EC135 program. “Eastern European states, and more recently countries in the C.I.S., were looking for the most cutting edge helicopters in order to reach Western standards of national security and border control. The EC135 had already proved its potential in the European Union where the law states that only twin engine helicopters may be used in urban areas.” The EC135’s efficient CAT A performance, state of the art design, and low maintenance costs won over the governments of several Eastern European countries, including the Czech Republic, Romania, Lithuania and Slovenia.

Some years later, as the focus shifted to the flourishing tourism sector, those same countries were also becoming increasingly aware of the importance of developing air rescue services. As a result, helicopters intended for EMS and rescue missions have recently been the target of major investments, with the spotlight naturally on the EC135, already a worldwide example in the segment.
“The main advantages of the EC135 – reliability and safety, and the flat cabin floor with rear or side loading – have convinced many countries, including Romania and Hungary, of its value in medical missions,” continues Steinke. Another winning quality of the EC135, certified in Russia this year, is the delivery lead time of less than a year. In certain parts of Eastern Europe occasionally lacking in adequate road infrastructure, a market is rapidly emerging for the VIP/Corporate sector, creating demand for the most up-to-date Western helicopters.

The EC145 has met with huge success in this segment, especially in Russia and countries of the C.I.S., given that the burgeoning EC135 customer base is steadily expanding eastward.